Each October, as the first hints of fall whisper through the air, Athens comes alive in a way true to the Classic City. For eight hours, Athens’ annual Porchfest transforms front yards into concert stages. Neighbors spill into the streets, guitarists perform alongside gardens and the sound of live music weaves through historic neighborhoods.
For the last seven years, an ornate, distinctly blue house on Lyndon Avenue has served as one epicenter of the music festival.
As soon as Oct. 1 arrives, homeowners Jim Taflinger and Durwood Pepper begin the property’s transformation. They spend days constructing an elaborate collection of skeletons, tombstones and glow-in-the-dark ghouls that spill across their lawn and catch the eye of every passerby.
When they first moved here from Gainesville, Georgia, Taflinger said Pepper had already built a reputation for his decor. It didn’t take much time in Athens for that same reputation to reignite itself.
“We thought about stopping,” Taflinger said. “We got rid of a lot of stuff last year. But, by very vocal requests from 5-year-olds in the neighborhood — we’re back again.”
That enthusiasm from Athens’ youngest residents isn’t misplaced. Their home has become a landmark for Porchfest and the Halloween festivities to follow, evident in the 700 full-size pieces of candy currently laid out in their kitchen. Their affection for their community and this city is palpable.
“Everybody who comes by, drives by, stops — they all say, ‘Oh, that house makes me so happy,’” said Pepper. “‘It makes me happy when I walk by.’”
Music between Mummies
By afternoon, porch stages come alive. This year, indie rock folk band Southam, of Northeast Georgia, drove into town to play in Taflinger and Pepper’s backyard. The performance marked their second Porchfest.
It feels just a little – I don’t know if wholesome is the right word,” said Southam member Dylan Stancil. “But yeah, it feels more like a hangout than a performance.”
The sense of ease described by Stancil carries through both musicians and crowd members as neighbors gather in lawn chairs and friends settle side-by-side on curbs. Athens’ signature creativity and musical talent can blend together here as one.
“I feel like this is just kind of all the best parts of Athens music,” said Porchfest attendee and University of Georgia student Elle Buckwell. “You can see every genre you want to see. You can be around community and different people in different neighborhoods. I think it’s totally quintessential Athens.”
Nightlife through a Different Lens
For some, Porchfest offers more than just music. It’s a reprieve from Athens’ bar-stacked downtown and an opportunity to connect with the local community through a different kind of nightlife.
“I feel like there’s not really a lot to do besides going to the bars, so it’s nice to have a change of scenery, especially for the older crowd,” said Porchfest attendee and recent UGA grad Noah Cutright. “It gets pretty tiring, especially once you get around your fourth year and are going to a bar. So having a different type of activity and environment is better than drinking.”
Other Porchfest goers echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the words ‘wholesome’ and ‘community.’ For many college students, it’s a rare bridge between campus and the broader city they now call home.
The reason I came back to Porchfest was because it’s nice to see the community together,” Cutright said.
“As a college student, you’re kind of in your own bubble, and then being able to see greater Athens come together just for a night is nice to see. So that’s why I enjoy going to it, and I keep coming back.”
As evening fades and street lamps flicker on, laughter still lingers in the air. Later, bands will pack up their guitars and neighbors will say goodnight. But for now, the house on Lyndon Avenue still glows brightly against its skeleton lights.
Alexis Derickson is a graduate student in journalism in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
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